[MSN] New Zealand. Iconic Russell mermaid disappears in night

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Iconic Russell mermaid disappears in night

05.05.2006 
By Mike Barrington 
A mermaid statue becoming a landmark in Russell has been carried off by
thieves. 

The 50kg brass mermaid was taken from the front entrance to the home of her
creator, Helme Heine, and his wife Kiki on Monday night. 

Mr Heine, 65, is an artist and writer who moved to New Zealand from Germany
in 1990. 

He said yesterday he believed it would have taken two people to prise the
statue from a steel rod which attached it to his Wellington St gatepost and
put it in a car. 

"I think it was pinched on order," he said. 

Mr Heine was approached by members of the Russell Business Association about
five years ago and asked to conceive a project which would promote the town.

  
He came up with a "sort of fountain" and when the it got the thumbs down
from the association, he decided to install it in his garden. 
"The mermaid was part of it. I had her cast in Europe," Mr Heine said. 

He estimated the value of the statue at $10,000. 

The mermaid was popular with photographers and the Heines left the gate open
so curious people could see other sculptures in their garden. 

Mr Heine said: "It is an exceptional piece. Her tail is twisted like a koru
symbol. Tourists loved her." 

He is eager to have her back and has offered a reward. 

People should ring Kawakawa police Constable Paul Tipene on (09) 404-3150 if
they have information about the statue. 

Mr Heine said police had sent out a photo of the mermaid to scrapyards in
case someone tried to sell it for the metal. 

The mermaid was the latest statue stolen in a string of thefts of large
artworks in recent times. 

. A bronze sculpture weighing more than a tonne by acclaimed artist Paul
Dibble was taken from outside a restaurant at Waikanae in October. The
alleged thieves later returned it for a ransom. 

. The iconic 50-year-old bronze statue Pania of the Reef was taken from the
Marine Parade in Napier later in October. She was found about a week later
and a man was convicted of her theft. 

. The head of a $3000 sculpture was stolen from Albany at Easter. 
 
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